Needle holder



April l2, 1966 s. w. AUDIA ETAL NEEDLE HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2l, 1963 o s m N mom E Nu T wbm T A m J Y) WD L E E2 up m M A l s@ W m z p 3) fl/IIVI. M

April l2, 1966 s.w.AUD1A ETAL.

NEEDLE HOLDER ZSheetS-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1963 blo l nimm F16. .li

INVENTORS SAMUEL w. Auom rALPeED J. Foa'ruNm-o QTTOENEYS United States Patent 3,245,524 NEEDLE HOLDER Samuel W. Audia and Alfred J. Fortunato, Torrington,

Conn., assignors to The Torrington Company, Torrington, Conn., a corporation of Maine Filed Jan. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 252,807 11 Claims. (Cl. 206-17) This invention relates to a novel needle holder, and in particular to a needle holder which is economically man-v ufactured and extremely ecient for holding needles in an exact relationship whereby the plurality of needles may be inserted as a group from the needle holder into a textile machine.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel needle holder having a pair of spaced, slotted, gripping members positioned between a pair of transverse abutment members, the slots or grooves in each of the pair of spaced gripping members being in alignment whereby a pressing or shank portion of a needle may be clampingly retained in aligned grooves of the pair of spaced gripping members, the plurality of needles being prevented from endwise removal from the needle holder by the transverse abutment members.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel needle holder of the character immediately described above wherein the needle holder is additionally provided with a sliding sleeve which is telescopically receivable about the needle holder to prevent the plurality of needles from being accidentally or inadvertently removed from the plurality of grooves in the pair of spaced gripping members.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel needle holder comprising a generally elongated body formed of plastic material having iirst and second transverse abutment members, a pair of spaced, grooved, gripping members positioned between and parallel to the first and second transverse abutment members, the grooves in each pair of spaced gripping members being respectively aligned whereby a plurality of needles may be clampingly retained therein, and further including a transverse recess between one of the first and second transverse abutment members and one of the pair of spaced gripping members wherein beard portions of the needles retained are receivably housed.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel needle holder constructed in accordance with the immediate above object, and including a second transverse recess for receiving and housing the butt portions of needles when a plurality of the needle holders are placed in overlying, reversed end-for-end relationship to each other.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel combined needle holder and tool comprising a body having a plurality of spaced gripping members, each of the spaced gripping members having a plurality of spaced grooves, the spacing between the plurality of grooves of the needle of the combined needle holder and tool corresponding to the spacing between needle receiving slots in a needle bar of a textile machine whereby a plurality of needles in the grooves of the needle gripping means may be transferred as a group to the needle receiving slots of the textile machine needle bar.

Still another object of lthis invention is to provide a novel combined needle holder and tool comprising an elongated body having a first plurality of spaced needle gripping grooves, a second plurality of spaced needle gripping grooves the width of the needle gripping grooves of the first plurality being greater than the Width of the needle gripping grooves of the second plurality whereby the forces exerted to clampingly retain a plurality of needles between the first and second plurality of spaced Patented Apr. 12, 1966 lCe needle gripping grooves are greater in the second needle gripping grooves than in the first needle gripping grooves.

Still `another object of this invention is to provide a novel method wherein each of a plurality of needles may be inserted into each of a plurality of needle receiving slots in a needle bar of a textile machine by iirst manipulating the above described combined needle holder and tool until the plurality of needles clampingly retained therein are received into respective needle slots in a needle bar of a textile machine and subsequently freeing the plurality of needles as a group from the combined needle holder and tool whereby the plurality of needles are transferred to the needle bar slots.

Still another object Iof this invention is the provision of a novel box, a cover for the box, and a plurality of holders for needles packaged within the box, the needle holders being arranged in the box in overlying pairs reversed endfor-end and each having a transverse needle butt receiving recess whereby the butts of needles clampingly retained in one holder of each pair of needle holders is received in the transverse needle butt receiving recess of the other needle holder of the pair of needle holders.

With the above, and other objects in view -that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

ln the drawings:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a box, a cover for the box, and a plurality of needle holders packaged in the box, and illustrates a pair of access openings in each side wall of the box and the cover in a position prior to completely enclosing the box.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, and shows a pair of needle holders in overlying and reversed end-for-end relationship to each other, a butt portion of a needle clampingly retained in the uppermost needle holder being housed in a transverse recess of the lowermost needle holder and ya sleeve telescopically encasing each of the needle holders.

FIGURE 3 is a side perspective View of a needle holder constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates a plurality of needles clampingly retained in a plurality of aligned needle receiving grooves, a pair of transverse abutment members preventing endwise removal of the plurality of needles from within the needle receiving grooves, and a slidable sleeve telescoped about the needle holder for preventing inadvertent or accidental lengthwise removal of the plurality of needles from the needle receiving grooves.

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of the needle holder of FIGURE 3 with the -sleeve and plurality of needles removed therefrom, and clearly illustrates a pair of spaced, grooved, transversely extending gripping members located between the transverse abutment members, a groove in each pair of spaced gripping members being in axial alignment, and a transverse butt receiving recess.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIGURE 4, and clearly illustrates the identical width, depth and spacing of the plurality of needle receiving and retaining grooves, a needle clampingly retained in a leftmost one of the plurality of grooves, and in phantom lines, a sliding sleeve telescoped about the needle holder.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 6 6 of FIGURE 4, and shows in phantom outline, a needle clampingly retained in a pair of aligned needle gripping grooves, the transverse abutment members preventing endwise withdrawal of the needle from within the gripping grooves, and a slidable sleeve telescoped about the needle holder to prevent lengthwise with drawal of the needle from the needle gripping grooves.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view of a modified needle holder, similar to the needle holder of FIGURES 3 through 6, but differing therefrom in that the needle holder is provided with a transverse abutment member having a stepped portion whereby needles of different lengths may be clampingly retained in the needle holder.

FIGURE 8 is a vertical sectional view of a modified needle holder, and illustrates a transverse needle abutting rib adapted to provide additional support for a plurality of needles ygripped and retained by the needle holder.

FIGURE 9 is a front elevational view of another modified needle holder, and shows three transversely extending grooved, gripping members which are removably mounted upon the needle holder.

FIGURE l is a vertical sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIGURE 9 and shows a projecting rib portion of each of the three grooved, gripping members pressfit in a rib retaining groove.

FIGURE 11 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 11--11 of FIGURE 9, and more clearly illustrates the press-fit connection between the rib portion of one of the grooved gripping members and the retaining groove.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the grooved portion of the needle holder, and illustrates the grooved gripping member and the rib portion thereof prior to insertion within the retaining groove.

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of a needle bar of a textile machine and a needle holder constructed in accordance with this invention, and shows the position of the needle holder and a sleeve telescoped thereabout prior to manipulating the needle holder to transfer a plurality of needles clampingly retained thereby into a plurality of needle receiving slots of the needle bar.

A needle holder constructed in accordance with this invention is best illustrated in FIGURES 3 through 6 of the drawings and is generally designated by the reference numeral 14. The needle holder 14 includes a generally elongated, rectangular body 15 constructed from a single piece of plastic material.

A first transverse abutment member 16 is provided at an uppermost portion 17 of the elongated body 15 and includes a transverse abutment face 18. A second transverse abutment member 20 extends outwardly from a lowermost portion 21 of the elongated body 15 and is provided with a transverse abutment face 22 opposed to the transverse abutment face 18 of the first transverse abutment member 16, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 6.

Between the first transverse abutment member 16 and the second transverse abutment member 22 is located a pair of outwardly directed transverse needle gripping members 23 and 24. The transverse needle gripping member 23 is provided with a plurality of identical spaced needle gripping slots parallel to each other and normal to the abutting faces 18 and 22 of the first and second transverse abutment members 16 and 20 respectively. The width and depth of each of the grooves of the plurality of grooves 25 is substantially equal to the width and depth of a pressing or shank portion of a needle to allow the insertion of a needle in each of the needle gripping grooves 25 of the gripping member 23. The spacing between the needle gripping grooves 25 of the gripping member 23 is substantially equal to the spacing between the needle receiving slots in a needle bar of a textile machine for a purpose to be more fully explained hereafter. The needle gripping grooves 25 terminate short of a front face portion 26 of the elongated needle holder body 15.

The transverse gripping member 24 is provided with a plurality of identical, spaced needle gripping grooves 27. Each needle gripping groove 27 of the gripping member 24 is axially aligned with a respective needle gripping groove 25 of the gripping member 23, and is normal to the abutting faces 18 and 22 of the respective first and second transverse abutting members 16 and 20 respectively. The needle gripping vgrooves 27 are each of a depth equal to the depth of the needle gripping grooves 2S and similarly terminate short of the front face portion 26 of the needle holder body 15, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 5. However, the width of each of the needle gripping grooves 27 is slightly less than the width of each of the needle gripping grooves 25 for a reason which will be more fully discussed hereafter. The spacing between each of the needle gripping grooves 27 corresponds to the spacing between a plurality of needle receiving slots in a needle bar of a textile machine for a reason to be made apparent hereafter.

The second end portion 21 of the elongated body 15 is provided with a first transverse beard receiving recess 28. As is best illustrated in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, the beard receiving recess 28 is contoured to receive a beard portion B of a needle N clampingly retained in the needle holder 14 by the needle gripping grooves 25 and 27. Because a pair of aligned needle gripping grooves 25 and 27 clampingly retain the needle N, the beard B thereof does not contact the abutting face 22 of the second transversed abutment member 20 and an offset portion or butt O of the needle N is maintained in spaced relation to the abutting face 18 of the first transverse abutment member 16. In this manner, damage of the delicate beard B of the needle N and the offset portion O is avoided. However, endwise removal of the needle N from within the needle gripping grooves 25 and 27 by sliding the needle N lengthwise therein is precluded by the abutment of the offset portion O with the abutting face 18 or the beard B with the abutting face 22.

A second transverse butt receiving recess 30 is formed in the second end portion 21 of the elongated body 15. The second end portion 21 of the elongated body 15 further includes an outwardly extending transverse end wall 31. The outward extent of the transverse end Wall 31 is equal to the outward extent of the first transverse abutment member 16 for a purpose to be hereafter explained.

A transparent slidable sleeve 31 is telescoped about the elongated body 15 of the needle holder 14. As is best illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the transparent sliding sleeve 32 is shorter in length than the length of the elongated body 15. The sliding sleeve 32 of FIGURE 3 is shown in its fully telescoped position upon the body 15, and it is to be noted that in this position the offset portions O or butts of the plurality of needles N project outwardly beyond an upper edge portion 33 of the sliding sleeve 32. Furthermore, while the beards B of the needles N are protectively housed within the transverse beard receiving recess 28 of the body 15, the beards B are exposed below a lower edge portion 32 of the sliding lower edge portion 34 of the sliding sleeve 32. Thus, while a plurality of needles N are clampingly retained in the needle holder 14 by the spaced gripping members 23 and 24, endwise removal of the needles N is precluded =by the abutting faces 18 and 22, while lengthwise removal of the needles N is prevented by the sliding sleeve 32. Furthermore, because of the transparency and length of the sliding sleeve 32, the number of needles N in the needle holder 14, as well as the specific configuration of the beards B and offset portions O thereof can be readily determined.

The needle holders 14 of this invention are constructed to provide maximum protection for a plurality of needles clampingly retained therein in a manner clearly illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings to which attention is now directed. Illustrated in FIGURE 1 is a box 35 having a bottom wall 36, a pair of opposed upstanding end walls 37 and a pair of opposed upstanding side walls 38. Each of the side walls 38 includes a upwardly opening identical pair of slots 40. The slots 40 in the side walls 38 are oppositely disposed to provide access openings whereby the needle holders 14 packaged within the box 35 rnay be readily gripped by a persons thumb and fingers and easily withdrawn upwardly from the box 35.

The slots 40 in each of the side walls 38 define therebetween an upstanding centrally located divider wall 41. Each of the slots 40 terminates short of the upstanding end Walls 37 and thereby form a plurality of identical side wall portions 42.

The box 35 is preferably constructed of plastic material and is dimensioned to receive two stacks S of needle holders 14. That is, the distance between ythe opposed upstanding end walls 37 is substantially equal to the combined widths of two needle holders 14, while the distance between the upstanding side walls 38 of the box 35 is equal to the length of the needle holders 14.

A cover 43, constructed of plastic material, is telescoped over the box 35 to completely enclose the same.

Illustrated in FIGURE 2 is a lowermost needle holder 44 resting upon the bottom 36 of the box 35. An uppermost needle holder 45 is turned end-for-end with respect to the lowermost needle holder 44 with the first transverse abutment member 16 of the uppermost needle holder 45 seated upon the transverse end wall 31 of the lowermost needle holder 44. In a manner clearly shown' in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the offset portions O or butts of the plurality of needles N clampingly retained in the uppermost needle holder 45 are received within the transverse butt receiving recess of the lowermost needle holder 44. Though not illustrated in the drawings, the offset portions or butts of the needles N in the lowermost needle holder 44 are received within the transverse butt receiving recess of the uppermost needle holder 45. Thus, the offset portions O or butts and the beards B of the needles N in the lowermost needle holder 44 Vand the up' permost needle holder 45 are effectively, protectively packaged Within the box 35.

As has been heretofore described, the spacing between the needle gripping grooves 25 and 27 of the needle'holderl 14 cooperate in a novel manner with -a plurality of needle receiving slots in a needle bar of a textile machine. Illustrated in FIGURE 13 of the drawings is a needle bar 46 of a textile machine (not shown). The needle bar 46 is formed of metal and includes an upper portion 47 having a plurality of identical aligned apertures 48. A lower portion 50 of the needle bar 46 projects outwardly from the upper portion 47 thereof and is provided with a plurality of identical needle receiving slots 51. Each of the needle receiving slots 51 is aligned with a respective aperture 48 in the upper portion 47 of the needle bar 46. The needle receiving slots 51 are accurately machined to receive a pressing P or shank of the needles N. The spacing between the needle receiving slots 51 of the needle bar 46 is identical and corresponds to the spacing between the needle gripping grooves 25 and 27 of the needle holder 14. The width of each of the needle receiving grooves of the plurality of needle receiving grooves 51 is identical, but preferably slightly less, than the width of each needle gripping groove 27 in the gripping member 24.

When it becomes necessary or desirable to insert a plurality of needles N into the needle receiving slots 51 of the needle bar 46, the sleeve 32 of the needle holder 14 is slid to the position illustrated, thus exposing the pressings P or shanks of the plurality of needles N.- The needle holder 14 is then advanced in the direction of the arrow 52 until the offset portions O or butts of the needles N are in registry with the aligned apertures 48 vin the needle bar 46 and the pressings P or shanks of the needles N are inserted within the needle receivingV slots 51 of the needle har 46. The slightly greater widths of the needle gripping grooves 25 as compared to the needle gripping grooves 27 `allow the needle N gripped by the needle holder 14 to be shifted slightly laterally for alignment with the needle receiving slots 51. At this point the plurality of needles N are gripped both by the needle gripping grooves `25 and 27 of the needle holder 14 and the needle receiving slots 51 of the needle bar 48. However, because the needle receiving slots 51 are formed in the metallic needle bar 46 and because the needle receiving slots 51 are more exactingly machined to grip the pressings P or shanks of the needles N with a force greater than that exerted by the needle gripping grooves 25 and 27 of the needle holder 14, the needles N in the needle holder 14 will be transferred as a group to the needle bar 46 upon the withdrawal of the needle holder 14 in the direction of the broken arrow 53. To withdraw the needle holder 14 in the direction of the broken arrow 53, it is rst necessary to remove the sleeve 32 from .about the body 15 to entirely expose the needles carried thereby.

In this manner, the needle holder 14 performs the function of a tool to accurately transfer needles carried thereby to the needle bar 46 of a textile machine.

The obvious advantage of applying needles to a needle bar by the combined needle holder and tool 14 of this invention are believed readily apparent. For example, the slow hand operation of filling needle bars is replaced by a much faster operation whereby as much as fifty needles at a time may be simultaneously transferred to a needle bar. At no time are the needles loose and because the sleeve 32 is in the position illustrated in FIG- URE 13 during the transfer of the needles from the needle holder 14 to the needle bar 46, the needles never come into contact with the persons hands. Thus, rusting of the needles from the salts and acids from a persons hand is avoided. No adhesives are needed to hold the needles and, therefore, the needles may be dry or lubricated by any desired substance.

The body 15 and sleeve 32 form a complete subpackage in which a quantity of needles may be carried in an operators pocket. Heretofore, a separate box was necessary if a small amount of needles had to be carried.

It should also be readily apparent that the needles may be removed from the needle bar 46 and repacked in the needle holder 14 with great ease by merely reversing the needle bar loading procedure, outlined above. To remove a plurality of needles N from the needle receiving slots 51 of the needle bar 46, an empty needle holder 14 is 4moved in the direction of the arrow 52 in FIGURE 13 until the needle gripping grooves 25 and 27 thereof clampingly retain the plurality of needles N. The sleeve 32 is then slid upwardly to the position shown in FIG- URE 13 at the upper portion thereof overlying the gripping member 24. The sleeve 32 is squeezed along the portion thereof `overlying the gripping member 24 with a force greater than the force holding the needles N in the needle receiving slots 51 of the needle bar 46. The needle holder 14 is then withdrawn from the needle bar 46 in the direction of the arrow 53 and the plurality of needles N are removed from the needle bar 46 as a group without the lingers of an operator coming into contact with the portions of the needles N. The sleeve 32 may then be slid upon the body 15 to the nal position thereof, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

, In FIGURE 7 there is shown a needle holder 54 comprising a body 55, a rst transverse abutment member 56 and a second transverse abutment member 57. The first transverse abutment member 56 includes a stepped abutting face 58 whereby a plurality of needles N of diiferent lengths may be held in the body 55 by a pair of needle gripping members 60 and 61. A plurality of needle gripping grooves in the needle gripping member 60 correspond in width, depth, alignment and spacing to the needle gripping groves 25 of the needle gripping member 23 of FIGURE 4. Similarly, the needle gripping member 60 is provided with a plurality of needle gripping grooves which are identical to the needle gripping grooves 27 of FIGURE 4.

The body 55 of the needle holder 52 further includes a transverse end wall 62 and a transverse butt receiving recess 63.

Between the needle gripping members 61 and 60 is located a transverse beard receiving recess 64. As is clearly illustrated in FIGURE 7, a beard B of the needle N is protectively housed in the transverse beard receiving recess 64 of the body 55.

A transverse tool receiving recess 65 is formed in the body 55 between the lirst transverse abutment member 56 and the needle gripping member 60. The transverse recess 65 allows a tool to be inserted between the body 55 and a plurality of needles N to force the needles out of clamping engagement with the needle gripping means 60 and 61 when the needle holder 54 is being employed to transfer the needles thereof to a needle bar, in a manner similar to that discussed in connection with FIGURE 13.

The needle holders 54 are capable of being reversed end-for-end in protective overlying relationship to each other, similar to the needle holders 44 and 45 of FIG- URE 2. It should be particularly noted that the transverse butt receiving recess 63 of the body 55 is wider than the transverse butt receiving recess 30 of the body 15. The reason for this is to accommodate the butt portions of needles irrespective of their position on the stepped first transverse abutment member 56. The needle holder 54 is also provide-d with a transparent sliding sleeve (not shown), similar to the sliding sleeve 32 of FIGURE 3.

In FIGURE 8 there is illustrated a needle holder 68 comprising a body 70, a irst outwardly directed transverse abutment member 71 and a second outwardly directed transverse abutment member 72. The transverse abutment members 71 and 72 are identical to the transverse abutment members 16 and 20 of FIGURE 6. The needle body 70 also includes a transverse butt receiving recess 73 and a transverse end wall 74.

Between the first and second transverse abutment members, 71 and 72 respectively, are a pair of grooved transverse needle gripping members 75 and 76. A plurality of grooves in the needle gripping members 75 and 76 correspond to and are `substantially identical to the respective needle gripping `grooves 25 and 26 in the body 15 of the needle holder 14. One exception is that the length of each groove in the needle gripping member 76 is shorter than the length of each groove in the needle gripping member 24 of FIGURE 4. The needle 4gripping members 75, 76, 25, and 26 are identical in width, depth, alignment and the spacing therebetween.

A transverse abutment rib 77 extends outwardly :of the body 70 and terminates in a needle abutting face 78. The needle abutting face 78 is coplanar to a terminal wall 80 in each of the lgrooves in the needle gripping members 75 and 76, thereby providing three points of support at the mi-dportion of the needles N.

The needle holder 68 further includes a sliding sleeve (not shown), identical to the sliding sleeve 32 shown in FIGURE 3, and functions in a manner identical to that set forth heretofore in connection with the needle holder 14.

Shown in FIGURES 9 through 12 of the drawings is a needle holder 84. The needle holder 84 includes an elongate-d rectangular body 85 made :of a piece of plastic material, and has a lirst transverse abutment member 86 at a tirst end portion 87 of the body 85. The lirst transverse abutment member 86 includes an abutting face 88. A second transverse abutment member 90 and a second end portion 91 of the body 85 has a abutting face 92 opposed to the abutting face 88 .of the first transverse abutment member 86.

Between the rst and second transverse abutment members, 86 `and 90 respectively, is located a plurality of removable gripping members 92, 93 and 94. The uppermost removable gripping member '92 includes a plurality of spaced needle gripping grooves 95. Each of the needle gripping grooves 95 is normal to the abutting face 88 of the first transverse abutment member 86 and the abutting face 92 of the second transverse abutting member 90. Each of the plurality of needle gripping grooves 95 is identical and terminates short of a front face 96 of the body 85.

The removable gripping members 93 and 94 are each provided with a plural-ity of identical needle gripping grooves 97. The grooves 97 in each 4of .the removable gripping members 93 and 94 are axially aligned with each other -and in axial alignment with the needle gripping grooves 95 of the removable gripping member 92. Flurthermore, the needle gripping grooves 97 are normal to lthe abutting faces 88 and 92 of the respective first and second transverse abutment members 86 and 90. The depth and length of the needle gripping grooves 97 are identical to the depth and length of the needle gripping grooves 95. However, while the width of ythe grooves 97 a-re identical, they are lesser .in width Ithan the width of the needle gripping grooves 95.

The front face 96 `of the body 95 is provided with a plurality 'of identical transverse rib receiving grooves 98. An identical transverse rib portion 99 of each of the groove gripping members 92, 93 :and 94 is received in a respective one of the rib receiving grooves 98. The rib receiving recesses 98 and the ri-bs 99 of the needle gripping members 92, 93 and 94 are so dimensioned as to provide `a friction t. In this manner, each of the needle gripping members 92, 93, and 94 may be removed from the needle holder 84 and reinserted into the rib receiving recesses 98 thereof whenever desired.

As is clearly shown in FIGURE 10 of the drawings, a plurality of needles N are grippingly retained in the needle gripping grooves 95 and '97 with the offset portion O or butts and the beards B of the plurality of needles N in spaced relationship to the abutting faces 88 and 92. Though not illustrated in FIGURES 9 through 12 of the drawings, a transparent, slid-ing sleeve, similar to the sliding sleeve 32 of `FIGURE 3 is telescoped about the body of the needle holder 84. Furthermore, the needle holder `84 is constructed to cooperate with another identical needle holder reversed end-for-end thereto, in a manner similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings.

Furthermore, the needle holder 84 of FIGURES 9 through 12 of the drawings, is used as :a Itool to insert or remove a plurality of needles into or from a plurality of needle receiving slots in la needle .bar of a textile machine, similar to 'the procedure outlined in fthe operation of the needle holder 14 in connection with FIGURE 1,3. That is, the distance between each of the slots 97 and 95 corresponds to the distances between each of a plurality of needle receiving slots in Ithe needle bar of a textile machine.

While example disolosures of a plurality of needle holders are disclosed and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that changes in ythe disclosed needle holders and their components may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention Yas defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A needle holder comprising a generally elongated body, -a first transverse abutment member extending outwardly from a lirst end portion of the body, a second transverse abutment member extending outwardly from a second end portion of the body, said irst and second transverse abut-ment members extending outwardly from the same side of the body and including opposed abutment faces, a pair of spaced gripping members between the first and second transverse -abutment members, a first one of the pair of spaced gripping members being provided with a iirst plurality of grooves normal to the abutment face of the first transverse abutment member, the other of the pair of spaced ,gripping members having a second plurality of grooves, the first plurality of grooves being aligned -with the second plurality of grooves, -a first transverse recess between one of said first and second transverse abutment members and one of the pair of spaced gripping members, said pair `of spaced gripping members each including engaging means cooperative with retaining means of the body for securing the. gripping members to th body, the pai-r `of grooved gripping members being adapted to receive and clampingly retain a plurality of needles in parallel alignment between the opposed abutment faces with portions of the needles receivable in the first transverse recess, the engaging means of each of the pair of spaced gripping members being a rib, the retaining means of the body lbeing slots receiving associated ones of the ribs, a second transverse recess in said body, said second transverse recess being adapted to receive butt -portions of needles when a plurality of needle holders are packaged in overlying relationship, a transverse end wall adjacent the second -transverse recess, an end face of the transverse end wall being coplanar to -an end face of one of the .fi-rst Iand second transverse abutment members, yand said body being surrounded by a slidable sleeve for prevent-ing needles clampingly retained in the aligned grooves from being accidentally dropped out or withdrawn therefrom.

2. A needle holder comprising a generally elongated body, a first transverse abut-ment member extending outwardly Ifrom a first end 4portion of the body, a second transverse abutment member extending outwardly from a second end portion of the body, s-aid first and second transverse abutment members extending outwardly fromv the same side of the body and includ-ing opposed abut-v ment faces, -a pair of spaced gripping members between the first and second transverse abutment members, a first one of the pair of spaced gripping members being provided with a first plurality of grooves normal to the abutment face of the first transverse abutment member, the other of the pair of spaced gripping members having a second plurality of grooves, the first plurality of grooves being aligned with the second plurality of grooves, and a rst transverse recess between one of said first and second transverse abutment members and one .of the pairs of spaced gripping members, an abutment face of one of said -first and second transverse. abutment members having stepped portions whereby needles of different lengths may be -clampingly retained in the aligned grooves.

3. A needle holder comprising a generally elongated body, a first ltransverse abutment member extending outwardly from atfir-st end portion of the body, a second transverse 'abutment member extending outwardly from a second end portion of the body, said first and second transverse abutment members extending `outwardlygfrom the same side of the body and including opposed abutment faces, at least one gripping member between the first and second transverse abut-ment members, said grip-k ping member being provided with a plurality of grooves normal to the abutment faces of the tirst and second transverse abutment members, a transverse recess between one of said first and second transversev abutment members and said at least one gripping member, and the 'abutment face of one of said first and second transverse abutment members having stepped portions whereby needles of different lengths may be clampingly retained in the aligned grooves.

4. A needle holder comprising Aa generally elongated body having first and second opposite surfaces, -a first transverse abutment member extending outwardly from a first end portion of the body, a second transverse abutment member extending outwardly from a second end portion of the body, said first land second transverse abutment members bot-h extending outwardly from the first surface of the body andincluding opposed abutment -faces, at least one gripping member between the first and second transverse abutment members, said gripping member being provided with a plurality of grooves normalpto the` abutment faces of the first and second transverse abut` ment members, a transverse recess between one of said first and second transverse abutment members and said gripping member, said transverse recess being defined by a Isur-face portion between said opposite surfaces and open# ing outwardly of said first surface, the plurality of grooves in the gripping member terminating short of the first vsurface of the body from which the first and second transverse :abut-ment members outwardly extend, and a. transverse abutment rib between said gripping member and said transverse recess and having an end face co` planar with the terminal groove faces.

S. The needle holder as defined in claim 4 wherein the elongated body is surrounded by a slidable sleeve for preventing needles clampingly retained in the aligned grooves from being accidentally dropped out or wit-hdrawn therefrom.

6. A needle holder comprising a generally elongated body, said body being defined at least in part by opposite surfaces, a first transverse abutment member a-t a rst endportion of the body extending outwardly beyond one of said surfaces, a second transverse abutment member =at a second end portion of .the body extending outward'ly beyond said one surface, said first and second transverse abutment members including opposed abutment faces, at least one gripping member between said first and second transverse .abutment members,said gripping member extending outwardly beyond said one surface, said gripping member being provided with a plurality of grooves normal to the abutment faces of the first and second transverse yabutment members, stepped wall portion means between said gripping member and said first transverse abutment member for accommodat-V ing portions of needles of different lengths retained in said grooves, recess means between said gripping member and said second transverse 'abutment member for receiving other portions of needles retained in' said grooves, and said recess means being defined by a surface portion between said opposite surfaces and opening outwardly of said one surface.

7. A needle holder comprising a generally elongated body, said body being defined at least in part by oppositeV surfaces, la first transverse abutment member at a first end portion of the body extending outwardly beyond one of said surfaces, a second .transverse abutment member at a second end portion of the body extending outwardly beyond said one surface, said :first and second transverse abutment members including opposed abutment faces, at least one gripping member between said first and second transverse :abutment members, said gripping member extending out-wardly beyond said one surface, said gripping member being provided with a plurality of grooves norm-al to the abutment faces of the rst and second transverse abutment members, a plurality of means spaced different distances from one of said transverse abutment members for accommodating needles of different lengths between any selected one of said plurality of means Vand said one transverse .abutment member, recess means between said gripping member and said second transverse abutment member -for receiving other portions of needles retained in :said grooves, said recess means being defined by a surface portion between said opposite surfaces and opening `outwardly of said one surface, other recess means provided in said body, said other recess means being adapted to receive portions of needles when a plurality of needle holders are packaged in overlying relationship, said other recess means being defined by said second transverse abutment member and -a transverse end wall extending outwardly beyond said one surface of said body.

8. A needle holder comprising a generally elongated body, said body being defined at least in part by oppos-ite surfaces, a first transverse abutment member at a first end port-ion of the body extending outwardly beyond one of said surfaces, a second transverse abutment member at a second end portion of the body extending outwardly beyond said one surface, said rst and second transverse abutment members including opposed abutment faces, at least one gripping member between said first and second transverse abutment members, said gripping member extending outwardly beyond said one surface, said gripping member being provided with a plurality of grooves normal to the 4abutment faces of the first and second transverse abutment members, means between said gripping member and said flirst transverse abutment member for accommodating portions of needles of different lengths retained in said grooves, said accommodating means being a stepped face portion of .said tirs-t transverse abutment member, recess means between said gripping member and said second transverse abutment member for receiving other port-ions of needles retained in said grooves, said recess means being defined lby a surface portion between said opposite surfaces and opening outwardly of said one surface, said body being surrounded by a slidable sleeve for preventing needles retained in the grooves from being accidentally dropped out or withdrawn therefrom.

9. A needle holder compris-ing a generally elongated body, said body being defined at least in part by opposite surfaces, a rst transverse abutment member at a rst endportion of the body extending outwardly beyond one of said surfaces, a second transverse abutment member at a second end 4portion of the body extending outwardly beyond said one surface, said first 4and second transverse abutment members including opposed abutment faces, at least one gripping mem-ber between said tirst and second transverse abutment members, said gripping member extending outwa-rdly beyond said one surface, said gripping member being provided with .a plurality of grooves normal to the abutment faces of the irst and second transverse abutment members, said lirst transverse abutment member including a plurality of means spaced diflferent distances from said second abutment member for accommodating needles of different lengths between any selected one of said plural-ity of means and said first transverse abutment member, recess means between saidgripping inem-ber Iand said second transverse abutment member for receiving other iportions of needles retained in said grooves, said recess means being defined by a surface portion between said opposite surfaces and opening outwardly of said one surface, other recess means provided in said body, said other recess means being adapted to receive portions of needles when la plurality of needle holders are packaged in overlying relationship, said other recess means being defined by said second transverse abutment member and a transverse end wall extending outwardly beyond said one surface of said body, said body being surrounded by a sl-idable sleeve for preventing needles retained in the grooves from being accidentally dropped out or withdrawn therefrom.

=10. A needle @holder comprising a generally elongated body, said body being de-ned at least in par-t by opposite surfaces, a rst Itransverse abutment member at a first end portion of the body extending outwardly beyond one of said surfaces, a transverse end Wall at a second end portion of the body extending outwardly beyond said one surface, a second transverse abutment member between said rst transverse abutment member and said transverse e-nd wall, said second transverse abutment rnember extending outwardly beyond said one surface, said Afirst and second transverse abutment members including opposed abutment faces, at least one gripping member between said rst and second transverse abutment members, said gripping member extending outwardly beyond said one surface, said gripping member being provided with a plurality of grooves normal to the abutment faces of Ithe first and second transverse abutment members, said first transverse abutment member having stepped portions whereby needles of different lengths may be retained in said grooves, a -transverse recess between said gripping member and said second transverse abutment member for receiving other portions of needles retained in said grooves, said recess means being defined by a surface portion between said opposite surfaces and opening outwardly of said one surface, other recess means between said transverse end wall and said second trans- Verse abutment member for receiving portions of needles when a plurality of needle holders are `packaged in overlying relationship, and at least one additional gripping member between said second transverse abutment member and said first mentioned recess means, said latter gripping member extending outwardly beyond said one surface and being provided with a plurality of grooves normal to the .abutment faces of the ii-rst and second transverse abutment members and in alignment with the grooves of said at least one gripping member.

=11. The needle holder as defined in claim 10 including means for preventing needles from being accidentally dropped out or withdrawn from the grooves of said gripping members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 48,039 10/1915 Niper.

1,939,497 12/ 1933 Herring 206-75 X 2,840,895 7/ 1958 Minock 29-433 .2,844,244 7/1958 Hanson 206-17 2,919,797 l/ 1960 McCracken 206- 2,922,517 1/1960 Nordquist et al. 206-5 6 2,944,124 7/1960 Arnold 206-5 6 2,944,662 7/1960 Colton 206-16 2,984,344 5/ 1961 Weissman 206-17 2,997,168 8/1961 Tall 206-73 3,004,660 10/ 1961 Hofmann 206-66 3,014,582 12/1961 McGrane 206-66 3,067,506 12/1962 Grant et al. 29-428 FOREIGN PATENTS 812,290 4/ 1959 Great Britain. 15,822 12/ 1897 Switzerland.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

WHITMORE A. VVILTZ, Examiner.

C. T. MOON, M. L. RICE, Assistant Examiners. 

6. A NEEDLE HOLDER COMPRISING A GENERALLY ELONGATED BODY, SAID BODY BEING DEFINED AT LEAST IN PART BY OPPOSITE SURFACES, A FIRST TRANSVERSE ABUTMENT MEMBER AT A FIRST END PORTION OF THE BODY EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND ONE OF SAID SURFACES, A SECOND TRANSVERSE ABUTMENT MEMBER AT A SECOND END PORTION OF THE BODY EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID ONE SURFACE, SAID FIRST AND SECOND TRANSVERSE ABUTMENT MEMBERS INCLUDING OPPOSED ABUTMENT FACES, AT LEAST ONE GRIPPING MEMBER BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND TRANSVERSE ABUTMENT MEMBERS, SAID GRIPPING MEMBER EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID ONE SURFACE, SAID GRIPPING MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF GROOVES NORMAL TO THE ABUTMENT FACES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND TRANSVERSE ABUTMENT MEMBERS, STEPPED WALL PORTION MEANS BETWEEN SAID GRIPPING MEMBER AND SAID FIRST TRANSVERSE ABUTMENT MEMBER FOR ACCOMMODATING PORTIONS OF NEEDLES OF DIFFERENT LENGTHS RETAINED IN SAID GROOVES, RECESS MEANS BETWEEN SAID GRIPPING MEMBER AND SAID SECOND TRANSVERSE ABUTMENT MEMBER FOR RECEIVING OTHER PORTIONS OF NEEDLES RETAINED IN SAID GROOVES, AND SAID RECESS MEANS BEING DEFINED BY A SURFACE PORTION BETWEEN SAID OPPOSITE SURFACES AND OPENING OUTWARDLY OF SAID ONE SURFACE. 